In addition to the existing chocolate diet, a new study will examine whether pills made from the nutrients found in chocolate would be beneficial. The study will involve 18000 men and women; The idea behind the study is to evaluate the benefits of fat-free, sugar-free chocolate ingredients, says Dr. Joanne Manson, head of preventive medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital Boston.
The key component of the study is flavanol, which is found in cocoa beans and has already shown positive effects on arteries, insulin levels, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Later, researchers will also evaluate the role of multivitamins in cancer prevention for a broader target group.
The study will be sponsored by Mars Inc., the maker of Snickers and M&M’s, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. At Mars Inc. There is already a patented method for extracting flavanol from cocoa beans and making capsules from it, but these capsules contain fewer active nutrients than the new study plans to obtain.
Study participants will be recruited from other studies, a much faster and less costly way than recruiting newcomers, says Dr. Manson. For four years, participants will be given either two placebo capsules or two flavanol capsules each day. Participants in the second part of the study will receive a placebo or multivitamin capsules. All capsules are tasteless and in the same shell, so that neither participants nor researchers can distinguish between real capsules and placebo.
Although the idea of chocolate capsules and the chocolate diet is relatively new, the health effects of cocoa have been studied for a long time. Cocoa in chocolate contains flavanoids, which are antioxidants and are helpful in preventing strokes and heart attacks, as well as lowering blood pressure. Studies have shown that flavanols can improve mental health as we age. Dark chocolate, with the highest cocoa content, has the highest therapeutic value and should be limited to ~20g every three days for best effect.
The flavonoids in cocoa and chocolate are found in the lean parts of the bean and include catechins, procyanidins, and epicatechins. In addition to protecting against severe diseases, cocoa beans have other medical benefits. Cocoa can stimulate an increase in serotonin levels in the brain, which helps with depression and even PMS! Cocoa beans contain many essential minerals and vitamins such as calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, potassium, zinc and copper, A, B1, B2, B3, C, E and pantothenic acid.
Since chocolate is so good for health, and now it can even be consumed in the form of capsules, it is not surprising that the chocolate diet has appeared. The diet was the result of studies showing that people who regularly consumed chocolate had a lower body mass index (BMI) than those who did not eat it often. Despite the fact that chocolate contains fat, antioxidants and other substances speed up the metabolism. Again, all the focus in the chocolate diet is on dark chocolate.
However, it should be remembered that regular consumption, and not an increased amount of chocolate, gives results. If you look closely, you can see that the common factor in all such diets is healthy eating, strict portion control and regular exercise, and chocolate is consumed in a certain form and at prescribed intervals. Chocolate pills and diets are a great way to improve your health!